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Thailand in January

LittleJames

26-Jul-2005
10:30:49 AM

G'day all,

I'm sounding out options for a 3 or 4 week trip to Thailand in January, and was hoping people on here could help me out with information about accomodation, food, etc. I've had a brief look around the web, but I'm guessing things have probably changed some since the tsunami.

First off, is anyone interested? The more the merrier.

Now... How much would I be looking at for cheap accomodation at Ton Sai or Railey? (Probably a bungalow, although if camping is a lot cheaper then it might be an option.) How much should I allow per day for food, bottled water, that kind of thing?

kezza

26-Jul-2005
11:05:08 AM

Go a bungalow for sure. Camping to me would be hideous! (but each to there own i guess) I think in Feb we paid something like AU$3 or $4 a night on Tonsai. This is post tsunami so prices may increase for next year I'm not too sure.
Meals are about $4 each max, so not like it's breaking the budget.. We ended up buying a big drum of water (like 10Lt or something like that) which was SOO much cheaper then buying a 2 Lt bottle every day. Definately the way to go. We stayed at Banyan Tree and it was wicked, really nice people, and fantastic food! Try their two fruit pancakes, they are ace!
-Kerryn-

LittleJames

26-Jul-2005
12:55:53 PM

$4 a night? Damn... That's insanely cheap. I assume that was sharing between a few people, yeah?

Gunta Skirtpulla

26-Jul-2005
2:14:32 PM

By next winter, prices will be back to normal at Tonsai for accom ($10-$15/per night - that's if you're with
another person).
Accomm prices at Railay were back to normal by the end of February before we left.
Budget at least $1100 for airfares to get you to Krabi - either fly to Bangkok or Singapore 1st.
$15 a day for food & drinks - $20 will allow you to drink loads of great tasting fruit shakes at the freedom
bar and enjoy some herbal remedies from JT's bar.
Aim for $2000 total and you'll be a happy camper.
Best place to find out general info on climbing in Tonsai/Railay is go to ;
www.simonfoley.com

Jackie

26-Jul-2005
11:21:12 PM

I paid $5 a night pre tsunami, and $3 a night post tsunami. Fully depends on what youre looking for and how fancy, but if you wonder all the way up the hill on Tonsai, Tiew Khao is cheap, or Saithong is even cheaper (bamboo bungalow huts with a double sized bed that can sleep two)

billk

28-Jul-2005
11:33:07 AM

While reading a Thai language textbook on the train this morning it occurred to me that I should use this thread to plug learning a little bit of Thai for people heading over there to climb. You can get by easily without it in places like Ao Nang but the Thais are very appreciative of any efforts to learn their language. Also, in Phang Nga province I spent time with a lot of people (fishermen, farmers etc) who had no English at all. They want to meet the farang (us) and even if you can only exchange a few words with them it will be rewarding fot you and them.

A good place to start is www.learningthai.com. You can click on sound recordings of how to sauy things, which is important 'coz you'll never guess from reading. It doesn't teach you the polite way to ask for things (PM me on those phrases if you like) but otherwise it's good.

Chok-dii krab!

Take!

28-Jul-2005
5:47:34 PM

Good point about learning some Thai. My partner and I learnt a bit of the language and some of the customs, social dos-and-don'ts, nuances. This makes a real difference to the way people respond to you both around the touristy climbing areas and more so when you get out into the sticks. You will be rewarded for your Thai-ness. For the Thais' it shows respect, so it earns respect.

BTW, I'm very envious of your trip. I'd love to be back there right now.

dalai

28-Jul-2005
6:02:20 PM

Take that same logic to any non English speaking country and you can't go wrong.

The French have a bad reputation - over one 3 1/2 month trip spent in France I only encountered one rude person. A few words in the countries language and most people are very friendly.

brat

29-Jul-2005
4:53:07 PM

Thanks for the link billk, my GF and I were there Nov-Dec last year, wish we'd seen http://www.learningthai.com/useful_phrases.html first!

Thailand's a fantastic place, Krabi Province, Chiang Mai, it's all good, even though we want to see everywhere we'll always go back there in transit to get our fix, would like to live there!

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